Cases of Covid-19 increase by 50% after Christmas

Covid-19 cases in Rochdale have started to rise again following the Christmas period.

Data released today (Wednesday 6 January) shows a 52% increase in the number of cases in just 7 days after Christmas Day.

In the week 26 December to 1 January, 695 people in the borough tested positive for coronavirus, an increase of 235 people from the week prior.

For the week ending 1 January the positive case rate for the borough was 312 cases per 100,000 people, up from 205 cases per 100,000 people for the week ending 25 December.

The national average for the period ending 1 January across England was 481 cases per 100,000 people and the average for Greater Manchester was 320 cases per 100,000.

Up to 4 January, a total of 15,256 people in the Rochdale borough have tested positive for the virus.

 

 

All neighbouring boroughs – Rossendale, Bury, Oldham and Calderdale – also recorded increases for the week ending 1 January, but are all also below the national average.

Bury recorded 354 cases per 100,000 with an increase of 228 cases on the previous week (12,086 total cases to 4 January), whilst Oldham recorded 292 cases per 100,000 plus an increase of 264 cases (17,214 total cases to 4 January).

Rossendale recorded 358 cases per 100,000 and an increase of 108 cases on the previous week (4,186 total cases to 4 January); Calderdale recorded 271 cases per 100,000 and increase of 218 cases on the previous week (10,095 total cases to 4 January).

In the Prime Minister’s national address on 4 January, he said the number of Covid patients in English hospitals has increased by nearly a third in the past week to 27,000 – 40% higher than the first peak in April.

All of England has been moved into Tier 5 - effectively another national lockdown – as of Tuesday 5 January, which means you should stay at home except for permitted reasons.
 

Read more: Schools to close as Prime Minister announces another national lockdownPublished: 04 January 2021

The government is aiming to give everyone in the top four priority groups – residents in a care home for older adults and their cares; frontline health and social care workers; everyone aged over 70; clinically extremely vulnerable individuals – at least one dose of a vaccine by the middle of February.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, over 35,000 doses of the vaccine have been given out across Greater Manchester as of 31 December. All hospital sites in Greater Manchester have vaccination sites operational, and there will be 55 vaccination sites across the area by the end of January.

There are two sites in the Rochdale borough for residents to be vaccinated - Number One Riverside in Rochdale town centre, and the Phoenix Centre in Heywood.

When it is your turn to receive the vaccine you will be contacted by Rochdale Health Alliance or your GP surgery. If you're not registered with a GP, you will need to register with one.

You must have an appointment to receive the vaccine. You cannot just turn up at one of the vaccination service centres.

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If you need to book a test

Testing is available locally seven days a week. If you have symptoms of Covid-19 ring 119 or visit nhs.uk/coronavirus to book a test.

For the latest guidance visit www.rochdale.gov.uk/coronavirus.